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Michigan Legal Aid


Nursing Home Checklist

Use this checklist while touring individual nursing homes to help you recognize quality care and make a decision you can feel comfortable with. You may wish to make a copy of this checklist for each home you visit.

General Information:

Name of Nursing Home: _________________________________________

Date of Visit: __________________________________________________

Time of Visit: _________________________________________________

Admissions Coordinator: _________________________________________

Telephone: ____________________________________________________


Observations about the Nursing Home:

    1. Is the facility free of unpleasant odors?

    2. Is the facility clean and free of clutter?

    3. Is the temperature comfortable?

    4. Are the hallways wide enough to accommodate passing wheelchairs?

    5. Are resident rooms large enough to allow wheelchairs to maneuver easily?

    6. Are resident rooms personalized (pictures, bed spreads, plants, etc.?

    7. Are there common areas where residents can talk and interact?

    8. Is there comfortable seating?

    9. Is there a private meeting space for residents & visitors?

    10. Is the current activity schedule & menu posted?

    11. Do meals smell good and appear appetizing?

    12. Are there a variety of foods offered throughout the week?

    13. Overall, is the atmosphere homelike and welcoming?

Observations about the Residents

    1. Are residents well-groomed and properly dressed?

    2. Do residents seem alert, happy and peaceful?

    3. Do residents appear active and involved in meaningful activity?

Observations about the Staff:

    1. Do staff knock on resident doors and ask permission before entering?

    2. Do staff respond promptly to call lights?

    3. Do staff interact comfortably with the residents?

    4. Do staff appear to be accommodating and supportive or overwhelmed and tense?

    5. During meals, are staff assisting residents that need help eating?

    6. Are staff interacting with residents while feeding them?

    7. Is the staff friendly toward you and willing to answer your questions?

    8. Does the staff seem comfortable with one another?

Questions to Ask the Residents:

    1. What makes a good day for you?

    2. Have you gotten to know other people here (staff or residents)?

    3. Is there enough staff to help you when you need it?

    4. Is staff responsive to your requests?

    5. What do you think of the meals?

Questions to Ask Staff and Administration:

    1. How do you like working here?

    2. Do residents have the same caregivers most days?

    3. What kinds of activities are available for residents to participate in?

    4. How are residents encouraged to participate in activities?

    5. How are resident food preferences handled?

    6. Are residents involved in roommate selection?

    7. How are residents and families involved in the process of planning for care or treatment?

    8. Can you give me an example of how you provide individualized care to residents?

    9. How do you go about ensuring resident and family satisfaction?

    10. How are resident or family concerns handled?

    11. Is there a resident and/or a family council?

    12. How are dental, optometry, and podiatry services provided? How often?

    13. Who are the physicians? How often do they visit residents?

    14. What is your policy on the use of physical and chemical restraints?

    15. What is your policy on "visiting hours"? Are families welcome to visit anytime?

    16. Is there anything special about this home that set it apart from other nursing homes in the area?

Questions to Ask the Admissions Coordinator:

    1. Are there any available beds?

    2. If yes, is it possible to see the available room(s)?

    3. If no, is there a waiting list & how long is it?

    4. Are all services covered in the basic daily charge?

    5. If not, what services are not covered and what is their cost?

    6. Can I have a copy of your admission contract?

    7. Can I have a copy of your policies?

To locate free or low cost legal assistance:

  • Visit the Michiganlegalaid.org home page and search for local assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer, organization or related service to help you with your problem.” or

  • Look under "attorneys" in the yellow pages to find your local legal aid office, or

  • Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738.

  • Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by calling (800) 347-5297.

This document appears through the courtesy of Elder Law of Michigan and is ©2005 ELM, Inc.